Can the bulldog spirit overcome football flair?

England versus Spain, a now familiar final, for both men and women. Thus far, Spain's rich football culture has twice prevailed over England's bulldog spirit.

- John Brewin

No matter the gender of the English footballer, their exhaustedly chasing their tail as the Spaniards stroke the ball around is now part of the national psyche.

On July 27, in Basel, Switzerland, England's Lionesses are reunified with La Roja, whose 1-0 Women's World Cup Final victory in 2023 in Sydney was far more comprehensive than the scoreboard suggested.

Sarina Wiegman, the Dutch coach who converted a talented, well-funded and still evolving England team into European champions in 2022, found few answers to Spain's pressing and passing.

The Lionesses came home as national heroines, women's football now part of the national firmament, despite the prejudice that continues to rain down on the players from men who should know better.

Mary Earps, the goalkeeper who carried England through many a rearguard effort, went on to win the 2023 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.